The clashes and further Israeli bombardment came as Lebanese and Hezbollah officials study a draft proposal presented by the U.S. earlier this week on ending the war.

Israeli ground forces have reached their deepest point in Lebanon since invading six weeks ago but pulled back after battles with Hezbollah militants.

Israeli troops captured a strategic hill in the southern Lebanese village of Chamaa, about 5km (3 miles) from the Israeli border, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.

By Riham Alkousaa and Ari Rabinovitch BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Diplomacy aimed at securing a ceasefire in Lebanon showed tentative signs of progress on Thursday as Israel pounded its northern neighbour including heavy airstrikes on the stronghold of armed group Hezbollah near Beirut.